The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) submitted a ticket tax proposal on Sept. 17; after several months of public input, council has created the Stability Fund and the Creativity Fund.

Council put out their original counter-proposal in November. Since then, they’ve exempted fundraisers by non-profit organizations, as otherwise would be not be “consistent with the spirit of this ordinance,” said Council President Shannon Hardin at council’s meeting on Monday, Dec. 10.

The Creativity Fund is expected to nearly double the resources available to local artists, arts groups and festivals through grants from GCAC. The Stability Fund will be divided into two revenue streams, one for improvements and ongoing maintenance of the Arena (80 percent), the other to benefit other publicly funded facilities, such as COSI, the King Arts Complex, the Lincoln Theatre, and Franklin Park Conservatory (20 percent).

“I believe this is a fair plan, a bold plan, and a realistic plan,” Hardin said.

Council approved the measures 6-0, with Councilmember Elizabeth Brown abstaining. Her father-in-law, Tom Katzenmeyer, is the President and CEO of GCAC.

The fees will go into effect on July 1, 2019.

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Lauren Sega is the Associate Editor for Columbus Underground. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.

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Lauren Sega is the Associate Editor for Columbus Underground. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.